Information over Internet is sent in "packets" of data. These packets travel from a source machine to a destination machine -- which could be two feet away or two continents away. Each packet of data contains IP address and port number of originating machine.

The firewall software inspects every packet of data that arrives at computer -- BEFORE that data is allowed entry into system and before it connects with an "open" port. The beauty of a firewall lies in its ability to be selective about what it accepts and what it blocks.

The firewall has ability to refuse any suspect data. If incoming data is ignored and not allowed in, that port will effectively disappear on Internet and hackers cannot find it or connect through it. In other words, instead of receiving a signal that a port is open, hackers receive nothing back and have no way of connecting.

Several firewall applications are available to small business operator or home computer user. Before changing firewalls or installing one for first time, it's wise to check out comparative testing that has been done on these applications.

Persons already running a firewall could test it's effectiveness by trying Shields and Ports test available at Gibson's Research Corporation (GRC) web site, or by downloading and running LeakTest software available on site at http://www.grc.com.

GRC's Steve Gibson has some surprising test results posted in conjunction with LeakTest's personal firewall scoreboard at http://grc.com/lt/scoreboard.htm.

The best-rated one is free. Not only did Zone Lab's Zone Alarm (http://www.zonelabs.com) score best in Gibson's testing, but firewall has been recognized for excellence by CNET, PC World, PC Magazine and Home Office Computing.

Other well-known firewalls include McAfee firewall at www.mcafee.com, Sygate Personal FW at www.sygate.com, Symantec/Norton at www.symantec.com and Tiny Personal FW at www.tinysoftware.com

Now, bad news.

A firewall protects you from open ports, but it does not protect you from data coming and going through ports that you allow. Malicious code can invade your system from email attachments or by visiting a hostile web site. And remember -- even well trusted web sites can suddenly be hostile if hackers have added malicious code without site administrator's knowledge.

Test your security against malicious code at Finjan Software's web site. Many of you will be dismayed to find that your supposedly secure system is vulnerable. http://www.finjan.com

Malicious code blocking software such as Finjan's Surf n' Guard analyzes incoming data and decides whether code could be harmful. ZDNet recommends that code-blocking software be used in addition to firewall and your antivirus software.

Too Late? What if you think you've been hacked? Call your computer guru to help, or check out information at sites like HackFix. http://www.hackfix.org

====================================== How to Write Business Plans, Business Proposals, JV Contracts,Human Resource Package, More! No-cost ebook "Beginners Guide to Ecommerce". Business Writing by Nightcats Multimedia Productions http://www.nightcats.com =========================================

Realistic goals can and must be set, you just need a plan. For example, in Lease Purchasing, as in any other business, goal setting is of paramount importance. You need to follow a plan, a plan for success. Short term goals and long term goals are part of this plan. Like many franchise businesses that have an outline for their franchisees to follow for a successful business, same should be done in lease purchasing.

To set these realistic goals and to obtain a good foundation, you need a program that provides you with support in start up and running of your business. Using our own Lease Purchase Coaching Program as an example, we schedule consultations that cover all students need to know to get started. We role play with students and have specific assignments giving them certain things to do, and certain goals to meet. If they follow program, and do their deals, they will be able to run their own successful business. We work with our students to accomplish above and to help them set realistic goals.

An example of goals in Lease Purchasing is number of deals you want to do, and how many calls or contacts you need to make to do that number of deals. How many consultations do you want to do, again, how many contacts you make will determine how many you get. Lease Purchasing like many other businesses is a numbers game. Make so many contacts, and/or calls and get so many deals. However, in order to do this, you have to make some goal making decisions and set realistic goals, not farfetched ones. Making a million dollars by end of six months is not a realistic goal. Making so many calls per day, per week, per month is, and then from number of calls/contacts you make, realize you are going to get so many responses, and from those responses make so many deals. A realistic income working full time first year is $50,000 to $75,000.

Following a proven method is of utmost importance. You don't hear of many Burger King or Taco Bell franchises failing. Why, because they follow corporate plan. The company will tell them there are no short cuts. If they want to succeed, they need to follow company's proven formula.

The people who fail in business are usually those who don't listen; don't want to follow a proven program; want to take short cuts; and who don't set realistic goals.

So remember, no matter what your business is, if you want to succeed you need to set goals for yourself ... and make them realistic.

Copyright 2001, DeFiore Enterprises.